Claire Varley – VANITY CLAIRE

MAYA | What After Now?

May 3, 2017May 3, 2017Posted in CULTURE, FILMSTagged ADVICE, BEAT MAGAZINE, CLAIRE MORLEY, Claire Varley, Goals, INSPIRATION, MAYA, Melbourne, music, WHAT AFTER NOWLeave a comment

Maya’s rich jazzy vocals are instantaneously striking for their beauty and individuality. Her unique sound, a mix of electronic and acoustic elements, is largely a product of her background, a cultural cocktail of Australian, African American and Hungarian roots.

“I have so many different aspects to my culture, and it builds such a versatile sound. It’s really meant that I’ve never felt like I have to be stuck to one way. As I get older, as this world changes, it makes me happier. The weirder, the better.”

Maya – real name, Maya Weiss – has not always been so content in herself, and is quick to admit she’s fallen victim to pressures to fit in and bullying over her 22 years on the planet. It’s only over the last three years, since leaving school, that she claims to have progressed beyond those feelings of self doubt.

“A lot of my childhood I really tried to change myself. I dyed my hair, I told people I was a freak. I never wanted to be in my own skin. But bullying, and all the aspects of that experience make for a stronger person.”

Her latest single What After Now is a anthem for living in the moment, something she felt compelled to write in response to the constant grind for more that underlines so much of the modern age.

“It means to live in the moment, to be free in who you are, to not stress so much. It’s a song to remind people that you can’t control our future but we can control our present.” Read more

Bad//Dreems | Gutful

May 3, 2017Posted in CULTURE, MUSICTagged BAD//DREEMS, BEAT MAGAZINE, CLAIRE MORLEY, Claire Varley, GUTFUL, INSPIRATION, journalism, Melbourne, music, POLITICS, ROCK, SYDNEYLeave a comment

With the dawning of social media and increased connectivity, the public’s voices have never been louder. As the political climate changes, and the everyday citizen becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the status quo, it’s sometimes hard to know how best to use your voice.

Affectionately labelled as pub rock, Bad//Dreems encompass so much of what makes quintessentially Australian rock music so identifiable, and with their new album Gutful, they hammer in a very political message.

Alex Cameron, the band’s guitarist, wants listeners to know, everyone’s opinions matter. “People may look at a band like us and assume that’s not what we’re about, and same thing with our fans. People may think that we may not believe in things like [social justice].

“That’s a real problem in the world right now, that we tend to stereotype, generalise and over simplify things, when in fact it’s very interesting to deliver those messages in the form of a garage rock’n’ roll song.”

The changes to the political climate over the past 18 months prompted the band to write about this heavy subject matter. From the Trump administration to the circus of Australian politics and the ongoing debates surrounding immigration, Cameron sighs as he admits, they’d had a gutful.

“The motivation for the title track is being fed up with the kind of round-a-bout, futile debates that take place in our world today, and of the bullshit being spouted by these people. Other songs are about more personal subject matter, and Mob Rule about the dangers of the mob mentality – it’s an album of the times.”

The aforementioned title track is considered a call to arms for those feeling underrepresented by public figures.

“You don’t need to have a PhD in humanities or political theory to be able to talk about these things. Obviously they’re very complex issues, but they can also be very simple. It’s an interesting exercise to write about issues which are very prominent in Australia right now. What better way to explore those issues than within a presumption about the genre?” Read more

Ben Wright-Smith | The Great Divorce

March 29, 2017March 29, 2017Posted in CULTURE, MUSICTagged APRA, BEAT MAGAZINE, BEN WRIGHT SMITH, CLAIRE MORLEY, Claire Varley, Melbourne, music, THE GREAT DIVORCELeave a comment

Despite his talent, and the sheer volume of praise and support he’s received in his young life, Ben Wright-Smith is softly spoken and completely devoid of ego.

He stammers as he reflects upon himself and his achievements, the completion and release of his debut album The Great Divorce not greatly affecting how he sees himself on the music scene.

“It’s funny with first albums, I think I feel more competent as a musician, but I think I’ve got to wait for people to hear it first, that will probably affect my confidence greatly. With music, I don’t know if confidence is the thing that matters. We make what we want to make, the main thing is the relief of having a full album that I can share with people, and say this is what I’ve been doing, this is what I’ve done, and this is how I wanted it to sound.”

Considering Wright-Smith’s impressive resume and masterful skill for songwriting, it feels strange that the APRA award nominated musician’s first album is only just being released. It arrives just over three years since he first made his way to the USA after being awarded the Australian Council for the Arts Nashville Songwriting Residency. The release of No One announced his arrival on Australia’s music scene in 2015, and the follow up, 2016’s Sand Grabber, demonstrated his ability to twist the genre of his music to make it his own. But the release of these two singles is an entirely different game to releasing this first album, Wright-Smith says. Continue reading

Tracey Miller | Live at Warrawee

March 29, 2017Posted in CULTURE, MUSICTagged BEAT MAGAZINE, CLAIRE MORLEY, Claire Varley, LIVE AT WARRAWEE, MASS CHOIR, MONASH, music, TRACEY MILLERLeave a comment

Tracey Miller is one of those people whose passion for music permeates every aspect of her life, and the happiness it brings her is tangible.

Rather than give up playing guitar after a freak accident with a louvre blind that saw her lose use of her left hand, she learned to use her hand again, and developed her own playing style. Yearly trips to Hawaii have seen her take up the ukulele and study harmony, with her accident, she says, making her a better musician.

After more than 25 years of teaching and singing in choirs, she’ll be leading the Mass Community Choir at Live at Warrawee Soul Explosion, a music festival put on by Monash City.

“There’s a lot of people out there who do community work, or help out their neighbours in some way, we should have things to celebrate in life, it shouldn’t always be about hard work. It’s a great way to get the community together,” says Miller.

“I know for a fact having taught choirs for many, many years that every single time anyone talks to me about their experience it’s just that they experience a lot of joy.” Continue reading

Bob Evans | It’s tour time

March 29, 2017Posted in CULTURE, MUSICTagged BAHA, BEAT, BEAT MAGAZINE, BOB EVANS, CLAIRE MORLEY, Claire Varley, JEBEDIAH, KEVIN MITCHELL, musicLeave a comment

He may have over two decades of experience under his belt, but it’s been nearly four years since Bob Evans, the alter ego and solo project of Jebediah frontman Kevin Mitchell, has taken to the stage in all his solo glory.

Having toured alongside good friend Josh Pyke in late 2016, Evans is well and truly warmed up for an extensive three-month tour across Australia, and ready to settle in to the solo-performance mindset.

“The band shows and the tour I did with Josh were both very structured shows and they had to be that way in order to work but playing on my own I have the freedom to do whatever I damn well like whenever the mood may take me and I won’t be blindsiding anyone. The whole thing rests on me, which is a good thing to do from time to time.” Continue reading

Northlane | Mesmer

March 25, 2017March 25, 2017Posted in CULTURE, MUSICTagged BEAT MAGAZINE, CLAIRE MORLEY, Claire Varley, MARCUS BRIDGE, MESMER, music, NORTHLANELeave a comment

Following a swell of curious buzz prompted by a mysterious YouTube video, a new single, and an oddly cryptic Facebook chat bot, Northlane has revealed their huge announcement to be the surprise arrival of new album Mesmer.

“It was meant to get people excited, but without really knowing what they’re excited for,” says frontman Marcus Bridge, of the unorthodox release. “We like a bit of mystery when it comes to starting things up again, so it was to get people talking, get people speculating, and it’s pretty funny to see the conclusions that some people have come to.”

Mesmer is a progression for the Sydney band, musically and thematically. Following on from the themes of previous album Node, the album stays true to Northlane’s traditional, heavy, metalcore, but with a fresh take of electronic elements and a new lyrical perspective.

“Jon is always moving forward and got the next thing in mind, so musically, he was always headed in this direction. I feel if anything, this is a clearer vision from our heads, because we’re more sure of what we’re trying to do. And we’re just trying to do what we like doing. Trying to express ourselves in different ways than we have before.”

In his second album as the five piece’s frontman, after joining the band alongside original members Jon Deiley, Josh Smith, Alex Milovic and Nic Pettersen, in 2014, Bridge is relieved to say he’s found a new confidence as a part of the band. A fan of a more personal approach when it comes to writing, on Mesmer he’s felt more comfortable revelling in his own personal style and voice.

“Some of these songs are a lot more personal than anything Northlane have touched on before, which is something very important to me. In terms of writing lyrics, I’m very much a writer from personal experience, I like to get feelings out, whereas Josh is a bit more worldly, out looking view of everything, and looking at the big picture of the world.” Continue reading

The Shins | James Mercer

March 16, 2017Posted in CULTURE, MUSIC, UncategorizedTagged BEAT MAGAZINE, BROKEN BELLS, CLAIRE MORLEY, Claire Varley, FEMINISM, FURST MEDIA, HEARTWORMS, JAMES MERCER, music, NAME FOR YOU, OH INVERTED WORLD, PORT OF MORROW, THE BEATLES, THE SHINSLeave a comment

Though James Mercer, frontman of indie rock darling The Shins technically began work on the band’s new album, Heartworms, about two years ago, he confesses his songwriting is far from a linear process.

Mercer’s writing is a labour of love, and some songs on the record have been in the works for close to ten years.

“I’ve always done that, there’s always these ideas where I hit some sort of an impasse with the song, and I can’t figure out how to make it work, so I set it aside. There are songs that I was working on before Oh, Inverted World that I still can’t figure out, so hopefully they’ll come out one day,” Mercer says.

“Some of those songs I’ve been working on for so long. The Fear is a song I’ve had floating around for years. I remember showing Eric Johnson that song when he was in the band, so that would have been touring for Wincing the Night Away.”

Even the titular track has its roots far earlier in Mercer’s illustrious career.

“Heartworms is pretty old, it’s something I was considering for Port of Morrow, but I couldn’t figure out what to do with it. Otherwise, everything is new, and I wrote it during that gap after I toured with Broken Bells.”

Despite this, it’s far from disjointed. Mercer effortlessly brings the old and new together to create a cohesive and palatable structure. However, the album is dynamic in its emotions, something that makes a lot of sense when you take into account it was written over many stage in his life. Continue reading

Best in beauty 2015: CHEEKS.

January 27, 2016February 6, 2017Posted in BEAUTY, MAKEUPTagged Beauty, Becca x Jaclyn Hill, Best in beauty 2015, Blush, Bronzer, Champagne Pop, Claire Varley, Dual Intensity Blush, Fervor, Highlighter, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush, Incandescent Electra, Laguna, Luster, Makeup, Mary Lou-Manizer, Nars, Nars Blush, Shimmering Skin Perfector, Steven Klein, TheBalmLeave a comment

My my, here we are at last. The end of the best in beauty 2015 makeup reviewing road.

And what better way to finish than with a look at some of the most fun and pretty products, blush, bronzer, and highlighter.

For lips it was the year of liquid lipsticks, but for the face, highlighting, or strobing, as the kids call it these days,was the new orange.

Here are my picks as the top cheek products of 2015.

Nars Luster Blush
Nars in general is my favourite blush formula. Long lasting, excellent colour range, and outstandingly pigmented so you only need the tiniest amount, and the plan itself lasts for ages. Luster, however, is my favourite shade by far, and although an old favourite, was far and away my most used blush of 2015. Its peachy-orange tone, and subtle gold shimmer makes it a perfect pair for pretty much any look, but especially a coppery eye, or orange lip.

Nars x Steven Klein One Shocking Moment Palette
First, the packaging. Adorned with the photography of Steven Klein, the outer bespoke case is striking and a gorgeous addition to a makeup display. But the contents are just as special. Containing a Laguna bronzer even bigger than a full sized single product, four blushes (including the aforementioned Luster), and contour and highlight duo in Paloma, the value alone makes this a favourite. I get use out of every shade in the palette, and it has earned itself a forever home in my makeup bag.

Although this specific, limited-edition palette itself has now sold out, take my advice and snap up other similar palettes when they are inevitably released throughout the year. The quality and value is unmatched, as far as I’m concerned.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Incandescent Electra
I couldn’t decide on which shade of Hourglass blush I wanted for months, and on the day I went into Mecca Maxima, convinced I would walk out with Diffused Heat, Incandescent Electra had been released. I left with it in tow. The prettiest, cool, neon coral, veined with incandescent highlighting powder, which adds a really subtle, lit-from-within glow to the cheeks.

Nars Dual Intensity Blush Fervor
The Dual Intensity blushes were a new addition to the Nars line in 2015. The unique formula can be used wet or dry, and each blush comes with two pans of complimentary colours. I’m keen to try a bronzer and highlight duo, but my standout favourite is Fervor, a deep, rusty rose and a pale pink. Works particularly well with the rust a wet, duo fibre blush, buffed into the back of the cheeks, and the paler shade lightly on the apples.

TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer
This highlighter is the old faithful workhorse of the intense highlight. A light gold champagne makes it versatile on many skin tones, and for all kinds of highlighting needs. TheBalm are an extremely underrated brand, with their products being of such a high standard, for a reasonably affordable price range (as far as high-end Australian makeup goes). If the gold isn’t quite your thang, check out the other Loumanizer shades, tailored for different skin tones.

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Champagne Pop
I’ve previously ranted about my love for this limited edition highlighter, released in 2015, so I’ll be brief here. It is great. Really great. Buy it.

So that concludes my look back at my favourite makeup products of 2015. Thank you so much for reading. I sincerely hope you enjoyed the series, and maybe found a few products you may want to try for yourself, or if you’re not that into makeup, use this as a gift guide for the special someone in your life who would love a cosmetic treat.

Did you have any favourite products I didn’t list? Or do you agree with me on some of these? Leave a comment below and we can gossip and enable together!

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Best in beauty 2015: FACE.

January 23, 2016February 6, 2017Posted in BEAUTY, MAKEUPTagged Australia, Beauty, Claire Varley, Concealer, Ethereal Light, Foundation, Hourglass, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder, Mac, Mac Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation, Mac Studio Fix SPF 35 Concealer, Makeup, Mecca Cosmetica, Mecca Maxima, Melbourne, Nars, Nars Sheer Glow, Primer, Stila, Stila Stay All Day FoundationLeave a comment

Eyes and lips may be fun, but a spectacular base really holds it all together.

I am a lucky little sucker with naturally very clear and even skin. I guess it makes up for the fact that my bowel is basically useless, almost.

But no matter what your base makeup needs, foundation, concealer and powder form the canvas on which makeup artistry shines.

Keep in mind, my skin is normal to dry, very clear (I’m lucky I rarely have any kind of blemish), and I enjoy a much more minimal coverage to a full coverage.

FOUNDATION:

Nars Sheer Glow
Shades: Deauville/Mont Blanc.
Although neither sheer nor glowy, this demi matte finish foundation is my long time love and favourite. The smallest amount goes a very long way, and it provides the loveliest, soft finish to my skin. When my skin is on the drier side, it has a tendency to be suck up Sheer Glow, so to rectify that problem, I’ll often apply over the top of a thin layer of Stila Stay All Day.

Mac Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation
Shade: NC20.
My current favourite foundation, Mac PLNWF was new in 2015, and was my solution to makeup just not lasting through very long, and sometimes very hot, days. I’d always thought Mac foundations were too much for my skin, but true to its name, this foundation is nourishing whilst still retaining its long wear. Considering I don’t enjoy full coverage, I use the tiniest amount, patting in a thin layer with my fingers, and it last all damn day, remaining flawless without looking like a mask.

Mac Studio Fix SPF 35 Concealer
Shade: NW20.
After finding nothing but disappointment at the bottom of my concealer tubes, I wanted something long wearing, that I could simply dab on for spot concealing of my very occasionally blemishes, whilst also counteracting my tired, dark circles. This ticks all my boxes, and the little pot lasts and lasts.

Mecca Cosmetica Facial Sunscreen SPF 30 (also available in SPF50, but couldn’t find bottle for photo)
SPF is important, ladies and gents. All day, erryday. As a fair skinned person, I’ve tried a few, but none sit under makeup and sink into skin quite as well as this one. Try the small tube before investing in a large one, if you’d like to see for yourself.

Mecca Cosmetica Lit From Within Primer
I’m yet to find my perfect primer, but this was my most consistently used primer in 2015. Provides a subtle, illuminated healthy glow without looking shiny or oily, and does create a smooth surface for foundation to go on top of.

Stila Stay All Day Foundation
Shade: 1 Bare
Mecca Maxima’s solution to my foundation not lasting long enough for my liking. Although I do love this foundation on its own, I like it best when combined with Nars Sheer Glow, as described above. Also comes with a little concealer on the lid, but I lost that long ago.

I used to HATE powder with a passion, but these two products have completely changed my mind, and I’ve fallen head over heels in love.

Nars Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder
Light and glowy, this powder sets and prolongs the wear of makeup without changing the colour or looking powdery. The light reflecting particles leave a diffused look on the skin, blurring pores and fine lines.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder
Shade: Ethereal light
The powders have hype following them in a huge way. If you’ve not heard of them, they come in a variety of shades and finishes, all imitating different forms of light. I’ve tried a few of the colours, and without doubt Ethereal is my favourite. It slightly warms up my face and makes me just look more alive and bright, without adding any sparkle. Although probably not best for a darker skin tone, it adds an ethereal, airbrushed affect to pale skin.

Loved this? Want more? Well you’re in luck, cause there’ll be part four!

Damn, guys. I’m a poet and I didn’t even realise.

Go back and read previous instalments, the first about eyes here and the second about lips here.

His ankles are surely broken.

Best in beauty 2015: LIPS.

January 22, 2016February 6, 2017Posted in BEAUTY, UncategorizedTagged Australia, Beauty, Claire Varley, Colourpop, Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks, L'Staj, Makeup, Melbourne, Nars, Nars Audacious Lipstick, Nars Lip Liner El Agua, Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick, Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick1 Comment

Lips! If a year ago you’d told me in one year I’d have an excessive (and expensive) collection of lip products, I would have been shocked that you had squandered your ability to time travel on finding out useless facts like what I put on my lips.

I also would’ve been shocked that I’d developed the confidence to wear such vibrant lip colours out of the house.

Rocking a bright lip takes guts, and it’s something I’ve had to work up to. But discovering formulas, undertones and colours that work for me has been outrageously fun, and its something I highly recommend everyone try.

Here’s hoping you can benefit from my excessive study.

Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick:
Released in 2015, this new formula for Urban Decay comes with a slightly small shade range, but one of the highest standards in quality that I’ve come across. Long wearing and damn near transfer proof, despite the matte finish they are hydrating rather than drying.
Favourite shades:
Tilt, bright orange;
After Dark, deep berry pink with a purpleish blue toned shimmer;
Stark Naked, peach toned nude;
Blackmail, almost black purple.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks:
2015 was the year of the liquid lipstick, and I finally got the chance to try this formula after Sephora finally opened in Melbourne Central, and they’re honestly the only reason I braved the lines and crowds.
Favourite shades:
Mother, dusty mauve pink;
Bauhau5, deep raspberry;
Aeysha, rich lavender.

Nars Audacious Lipsticks:
Hands down my favourite lipstick formula. Perfectly opaque in one swipe, as they advertise. Only wish they didn’t transfer quite so easily.
Favourite shades:
Anna, mauve toned rose.
Natalie, a flamingo, coral pink.
Dominique, a pink lilac, and perhaps one of the most unique colours I’ve ever come across.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils:
A long-wearing, intensely pigmented lip product. These are so good, basically every colour I try knocks my socks off. Only criticism is they can be a tad drying.
Favourite shades:
Sex Machine, mauve toned pink,
Walkyrie, burnt, brown toned red
Dragon Girl, bright pinkish red,
Never Say Never, berry toned pink.
Damned, deep magenta red.

Nars Lip Liner El Agua:
I’m not really one for lip liners, but picked up the purple toned pink El Agua in an attempt to make my excessive collection of mauve-pink toned lipsticks more purple. Long lasting on the lips, elicits compliments.

Stila All Day Liquid Lipsticks:
After acquiring the two holiday sets from Mecca Maxima, I developed an intense love for this formula. Extremely long lasting and easy to apply, in a variety of bright, unique shades.
Favourite shades:
Patina, mauve pink;
Baci, grey toned mauve;
Cosmo, bright violet;
Aria, deep berry;
Cianti, blackened plum.

L’Staj Liquid Lipsticks:
A wild card entry! These lipsticks are available online only, via the L’Staj website. A niche brand catering only for lips, their small shade collection is of an outstanding quality for the price, and is available in packs to further save dollars. I often receive compliments for these colours.
Favourite shades:
Lady Cheeky, pastel lavendar.
Lady Lovely, classic, soft pink.

Mac Evening Rendevous Lipstick:
This limited edition reddish toned purple landed in 2015, and instantly became a favourite shade. I’d be sad that it’s limited edition if it weren’t slightly less awesome than Men Love Mystery, one of my favourite lipsticks of all time.

Colourpop:
I would own many more Colourpop lip products if the shipping cost weren’t so expensive. I’m saving up for a mega-shop sometime in the future. I have the Lippie Stix in Lumiere, a collaboration with YouTube star KathleenLights, and three Lippie Pencils, in Lumiere, Grind and Leather, all of which I would recommend if you’re looking to experiment with colour without laying out for more expensive liners.

It’s been a long and treacherous wait, I’m aware, but the space between now and the hotly anticipate part three will be here faster than you can say “This mauve toned lipstick is definitely different than all those other mauve toned lipsticks I already own. I need it now.”

If you missed part one, which was all about the best eye products of the year, go back and read it here.

For a science lesson from a regular dude who likes to drink beer, and who won’t change his mind on anything, regardless on the facts set before him, click here. Science is a liar sometimes.